The moment they received the order to stop advancing, hundreds of slaves couldn't help but cheer.
Zhang Heipi sat slumped in the dead grass by the roadside and wiped his tears.
The army has finally regrouped, and there is no need to transfer food and grass anymore!
A group of ten of them set out from Chenjun and gathered in Bianliang. When they were passing through the three cities of Heyang, one of them suddenly fell ill and died suddenly.
When passing Tianjing Pass, a person accidentally fell into the valley, but the baggage team did not stop at all. Several escorting soldiers tried to go down and have a look, but finally returned without success.
Compared with excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes, frequent corvee is more likely to destroy a family. I didn't understand this sentence deeply before, but after fighting so many wars, no one has any doubts about this sentence anymore.
"Get up, get up." The officers of Xuchang Shibing picked up the servants one by one, gathered them together, and ordered: "We must also store grain in Guangwu for retrieval."
Zhang Heipi stood up quickly.
It's just a matter of delivering food to Guangwu County. It's very close, so it's not a big deal.
He didn't bother to ask what the grain was used for. He just delivered it to the fields and that was it. Why did he think so much?
While they were busy, a group of cavalry came galloping from the north and passed quickly by the baggage convoy.
"I seem to have seen King Liang." A young man murmured.
Zhang Heipi glanced at him and was about to refute it, but then he thought it might not be impossible.
After sighing, he helped the cart to turn.
This is the problem with two-wheeled carriages. It is difficult to turn, requires long distances, and requires help from servants.
On the other side, the cavalry that had just passed by at lightning speed slowly stopped.
Shao Xun got off his horse, threw the reins to his soldiers, and climbed up to look far into the distance.
There is a small earthen city in front of it, with a large flag flying at the top of the city and the words "Xinkou Longxiang Mansion" written on it.
It was already the winter months, and there was a thin layer of residual snow accumulated on the ground.
Dirty sheep were wandering in the snow, clawing here and there with their hooves, gnawing on dry and nutritious yellow grass. Looking at their cheerful looks, they seemed to be eating some unparalleled delicacy.
Shao Xun didn't want to disturb them, but the Longxiang Mansion discovered them. Soon, the nearest group of people came with weapons, and when they were about to ask, the leader knelt down and said, "The last general, Jiang Tai, pays homage." King."
When Shao Xun heard this, he immediately helped him up, looked at him carefully, and said with a smile: "It is indeed you! How about becoming a Sima of another department?"
"I have brought my wife and children over from Hedong." Jiang Tai replied: "I have a house, fields, livestock, a tribe, and a salary to pay. I never dared to think about it before."
Shao Xun laughed and said: "This is what those who fight for me should do."
After saying that, he looked at the group of sergeants behind Jiang Tai.
To be honest, it didn't look very good, so I asked: "What about you? How are you doing?"
Everyone was silent for a while, and after a while, a bold man said: "Your Majesty, I just want my family to have enough to eat. This year came late. I only planted winter wheat, and I am still eating the grains and beans distributed by Longxiang Mansion. Next year we should have enough food." It will be better."
"What about you?" Shao Xun looked at the other people.
"I just want to have a full belly and ears." Everyone said one after another.
Shao Xun turned to look at the soldiers behind him, pointed at someone casually, and asked: "Wan Kun, what about you?"
"Seal your wife as your shadow." Wan Kun took a step forward and replied.
Shao Xun smiled.
Material determines consciousness, and the economic base determines the superstructure. This is a wise saying.
This is true whether it is as small as an individual or as large as society.
For him, Fu Bing is the "economic foundation" created by himself. Quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes. When enough Fu Bing is accumulated, it can influence or even determine the superstructure.
The situation he faced twenty years ago was like these new soldiers who just wanted to eat.
Today's situation is like Wan Kun, a private soldier with a wealthy family and skilled bow and horse. He has higher pursuits.
"Wufeng Mountain to the east is already preparing to build Wufeng Longxiang Mansion. This is the third mansion of Xinxing County. You may be able to practice together in the future." Shao Xun said as he mounted his horse.
Before leaving, he looked at the lush farmland near Xinkou and said, "I have great ambitions, and you must help me."
After saying that, he galloped away on horseback.
The pro-army troops followed closely behind, causing a splash of flying snow.
Jiang Tai turned around and looked at Shao Xun's retreating figure.
He didn't understand that King Liang was invincible in every battle, he said the same thing, and he married the most beautiful woman in the world. What else could he be dissatisfied about?
But it doesn't matter.
One day after he entered Guangwu City, his life was sold to the King of Liang. He could do whatever the old man said, even the emperor could kill him.
****
When he arrived in Jinyang, it was already the tenth day of winter, and Shao Xun visited here for several days.
He likes Bingzhou more and more.
Both are counties under the Liang Kingdom, but Taiyuan is more pleasing to the eye than places like Chenliu.
The reason is not complicated. This place was originally a piece of white land, but now there are eight Longxiang mansions with nearly 40,000 military and civilian households.
In the eight counties of Taiyuan County, there are only more than 56,000 households and a population of more than 225,000.
The voice of the powerful nobles here was very weak, and the overall power structure was completely reshuffled, which he spent several years creating bit by bit.
Now there are three Longxiang Mansion in Xinxing County, and the Dabao Longxiang Mansion is about to be established in Yanmen County - the last batch of military rations that have been stopped are used for resettlement expenses.
These white areas are really easy to paint on!
When he climbed to the top of the city and took a look, he was in such a good mood that he almost laughed out loud.
Between the peaks, there are waves of pines and waves.
The wild deer leaps endlessly, and the knight chases it endlessly.
While hunting, I not only became familiar with coordination, but also practiced my riding and archery skills, which will be useful on the battlefield in the future.
On the battlefield, there were shouts and shouts.
The young man practiced hard with swords and guns, and the veteran repeatedly corrected him.
In winter leisure days, skills are constantly honed and willpower is constantly strengthened. These are the best reserve soldiers.
In the village, smoke is lingering.
Children are driving their cattle and sheep home, old people are busy feeding chickens and ducks, and women are sitting at the door mending clothes.
Inside the fields, it was full of heat.
The tribesmen wielded spades and pickaxes, dredging the ditch inch by inch.
Crops will thrive in irrigated farmland, but this is not comparable to dry farmland.
In fact, none of the above is important, because it can be seen in other places. The most important thing is that these soldiers and civilians have nothing to do with the aristocratic families. They are forces that the government can directly call upon. There is no need to send people out to discuss donations from house to house.
The twenty counties of the Liang Kingdom may be able to implement a fixed tax system that was not successfully implemented in the Jin Dynasty in some areas.
Twenty years, it took him twenty years to get to this point.
In an era without aristocratic families, perhaps everything would be much simpler.
"Your Majesty, if there is no major natural disaster next year, the eight counties of Taiyuan will be able to harvest six million dendrobium grains." Shao Guang, the prefect, came over and said with a smile: "In the past, Yin Hongqiao said that Taiyuan only enjoys the benefits of the Fen River. There are many people who don't believe it. , until next year, I’m afraid no one will dare to say anything wrong.”
Shao Xun smiled happily and said: "Zhengqing, do you know why Wang Yifu asked me to go back?"
"I don't know." Shao Guang was stunned.
"I received a letter yesterday. Wang Yan asked me to go back to Pingyang to discuss with the scholars." Shao Xun said: "This is the second time he has said this. I refused the last time. But some things have to be experienced again. I can’t go through. To this day, everyone knows that no one can stop me. Wang Yan is actually kind-hearted. When we talk, he will explain the topic in advance, but how to say this-"
Shao Xun patted the city wall and said: "After all, he still looks aloof. Times have changed, and some things should be explained clearly to them. Some people should also show their face. Wang Yifu is still old-school and wants to I rely on them to govern the world. Admittedly, this is true, I do rely on them, but I will not rely on them alone. If you want to talk, then find more people."
Shao Guang was puzzled at first, and then a little shocked.
He vaguely guessed that the King of Liang might want to bring some military officers with him for a "clear talk."
Maybe more!
What is this? A show of strength? Or "clear ambition"?
"Zhengqing, don't worry, don't think too much. Take care of Taiyuan for me." Shao Xun patted his shoulder and said, "This is the foundation of our Shao family. We must not ignore it."
As soon as the words "our Shao family" came out, Shao Guang was immediately excited and said immediately: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, as long as I am here, Taiyuan will only have the surname Shao."
Shao Xun nodded with satisfaction.
Taiyuan has been an important town since ancient times, but for some reason, its status was still not high enough. It was not until the beginning of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and when Li Tang made his fortune in Taiyuan, that the place finally began to develop explosively.
In terms of population, Taiyuan during the Later Han Dynasty was probably the smallest. Not only was it far smaller than the Tang Dynasty, but it was also smaller than the former Han Dynasty when productivity was relatively backward.
Upon closer inspection, it may be related to a country's policy tilt. The court paid attention to it and development started.
In the Tang Dynasty, Taiyuan (equivalent to Taiyuan County at that time, plus Leping County, a sparsely populated mountainous area) had a population of nearly 780,000, which is astonishing.
Taiyuan County of Liang State still has great potential to be tapped, but the level of development is far from enough.
"Weiqiu (Shao Jie) has been serving as the captain of Ye County for several years, right?" Shao Xun asked again.
"The Divine Turtle left two years ago, six years ago," Shao Guang replied.
"How old is he?"
"Twenty-nine."
"He can be the county magistrate." Shao Xun said: "I want to make him the Xinxing Jiuyuan Magistrate. This place is not far from Taiyuan. You can help take care of it."
"As ordered." Shao Guang replied.
"My family doesn't need to be like this." Shao Xun smiled and patted this brother's shoulder.
After saying this, Shao Guang stopped holding on and asked: "How many days will the king stay here? How many good places to go..."
"Forget it." Shao Xun said, "Just take a walk and wait for the large group of people. Speaking of a good place - if Wang Yifu wants to have a chat, I want to hold it in Jinyang. Please keep this in mind and search carefully.
.”
"Okay." Shao Guang agreed, and then said: "Here are either barbarians or government soldiers. There are very few wealthy families. I'm afraid the scholars from the Central Plains are here. I'm afraid they won't be able to adapt."
Shao Xun nodded.
Speaking of Hu people, he thought of the Wang family again.
He was just suspicious before, but he figured it out along the way: he was fishing for her, and she was fishing for him.
Grandma, this is the first time I met someone who dared to fish for me!
After men and women go to bed, they can now say things they dare not say before. They used to have a very humble tone, but now they are different. This is a very subtle psychology that people who have never experienced it can't understand. Wang has already instinctively said it
Started taking advantage of it.
After having children, you can now boldly try areas that you didn't dare to set foot in before because of fear and worry, because the mentality of both men and women has changed, and men are more tolerant.
Of course, all this depends on the person, and Shao Xun is exactly this kind of person. Wang may not have systematically studied him. She relied entirely on instinct to do things, but she always fell into the trap.
Damn it, I have a way to deal with you!
"Your Majesty..." Seeing that Shao Xun was distracted, Shao Guang called softly.
Shao Xun came back to his senses and said: "I thought about it, maybe some barbarian chiefs with some knowledge can come over. You can contact Taiyuan."
"Okay." Shao Guang responded.
Chapter completed!